graemew

I'm in
 

Always a fun weekend of racing on Rothesay. Wheelers well represented in every event from the hill climb, cx, 2up TT, individual TT and the 2 road races.
 
APR was run under TLI age category rules this year with 1.5 minutes between groups.  Robbie, Marc and myself in the 4th group. Most of the group were willing to work however there were a couple who were strong riders but who seemingly didnt know how to ride through and off so it meant things werent smooth and we had to work harder than should have been the case. Scratch caught us after 12 miles then jumped on that, pace picked up but it was now much more organised so really started to motor along  we caught the 3rd group of youth/juniors just before the turn just as they had caught the 2nd group. Then it was the chase of the first group. Gap was 2.5 minutes by then so the first group had extended their lead on the 2nd group. Was starting to get more difficult and some attacks were happening. However nothing came from any of them. We caught the first group just before the final climb, things started to split here and was hanging on by a thread by the top with the front group of about 14 riders (Paul, Marc and Ian all in it). It mostly all came back together on the descent and the flat when things eased a bit with everyone starting to think of the finish and jockying for position.  Jim was going to lead out Lynsey for the finish so thought it fair Jess had that option too which worked pretty well with her winning the womens race (and 9th overall). I was 10th, Paul 11th (and winning his category) and Marc 12th so good spread of Wheelers towards the top. Ian was pretty close behind too and 2nd in his category and Alan towards the top 20 too i think. Robbie unfortunate to puncture.
 
The groups and time gaps were spot on this year. Ideally you want the groups to come together before the final climb and thats what happened.
 
Special mention to Gerrard winning the novice race and also his category in the TT. Also to Marc and Ian going for the yellow jersey, no idea how the standings for that finished but Marc must have been pretty high up by the end...just unfortunate to share the same age category as Martin Lonie and Chris Smart!
 
Next year i think it would be a good event as a club to target to try and win the overall prize. We wouldnt have been that far off this year as Fullarton won it and i dont think any of them finished in the top 12 of the road race.

Cheers Karen but I have to drop daughter at work for 9 so going to struggle. Probably head out a bit later for a couple of hours.

Hi all,
 
Despite a few late call offs, 6 of us came out to play on this run - Al, Eric, Ian Ginty, Richard (a rare sighting in a Bunch run as the Nessie Monster  ), Stevie & myself set off from the Bridge with hope of some half decent summer weather!
 
Pretty event free before the (always nice) cafe stop in Kilcreggan apart from the greyish sky rather than the sun we were half expecting
 
Then it all kicked off after the stop - first I had a front flat curtesy of dirty rain washed road which my uber supple Italian rubber ain’t designed for, duly fixed & off we went again.
 
Then disaster struck for Stevie up the Glen Fruinn climb as his brand spanking new super duper Cevelo S3 had a major mechanical which render it a bit of a mess, a quick SOS call back to base had him sorted for a rescue of man & machine. We reluctantly left him to gently walked back down to the main road - poor Stevie (even worst for his wife/partner who had to drive all that way to rescue him  ) we were pretty sure we could have converted it into a single speed & at least had him ride to Helensbrough for the train ………. oh well :-)
 
So, the 5 of us continued on home via Balloch, where upon Richard & myself stayed on the Northside as the others cross the bridge.
Thankfully everyone got back ok & the sun finally came out when I got home ……. typical!
 
Thanks to Ian for posting the run & the rest for the wheels today, thoroughly enjoyed it despite the few issues & well done to all the testers on the 25TT on the West ferry, especially Billy for a very good time indeed, chapeau chaps!
 
I haven’t posted a ride report for a while, the ease of Strava have made me lazy in that respect, anyhow thanks for reading & hope to see youse on the road soon!
 
Cheers
 
Chung

Everything Darryl said and more, a great trip! Hard, fun days on the bike and well looked after by each other, loads of full belly laughter(mainly at my quick wit & Jokes). Definitely have made some great memories which I'm sure I will remember after some sleep. 
 
Quotes of the Week
 
"Woot Woot"
"Is this the last Hill?"
"Left Yah F****y"
"Right Yah F****y"
 
Epic stuff, hope I don't see any of you for a few weeks 
 

What time would I be needed from. Finish up my nightshift that morning but if possible would like to help.

A good day out, but not quite what was planned. Four of us pushed hard to get up to Lochranza in time for the ferry, only to find that the ferry had broken down and a replacement was going to take some time to get there (if it ever did), so we decided to carry on round Arran. We stopped at Shiskine Golf Club for a good lunch and some relief from the southerly breeze,  before heading back round to Brodick.
 
The one good point was that Calmac took our complaint on board - they should not have sold us Five Ferries tickets at Ardrossan because the Lochranza ferry had broken down the previous day - since they refunded the tickets and gave us complimentary tickets to get back to Ardrossan, which paid for a beer at Brodick golf club before we left the island.

Dear all
 
I have pasted below the latest update on the Rothesay Cycling Weekend. Many will have been before and will know there is something for everyone. Hill climb, individual and 2 up TT, handicapped road race, novice road race, cyclo cross, bands, drink and merriment. Be great to see the usual big turnout from JWCC. Also worth mentioning you can join for the day, you don't need to be a member of TLI or BCF.
 

 
 
 
 
You can now enter the events in the Isle of Bute festival. hill climb, TTs, road race, cyclo cross, or the lot!
 
enter via the TLI entry system on www.tlicycling.org.uk .
 
Murray Doyle says:-
 
Isle of Bute Cycling Festival 2017 not so far away now, no better place to be weekend of 16th & 17th September...lots of great racing as ever, hanging out with your cycling mates, and oodles of sea air! Also this year we're gone even further and are hosting the fantastic cycling-happy rockabilly band the VELONINOS for your entertainment Saturday evening...limited tickets available www.veloninos.com
Race entry via tli website. Prizes across all age categories, also maybe win a commemorative fridge magnet!
 
all enquiries to [email protected]

It had its tribulations, I managed to break my track pump before I had left the house, then under Erskine Bridge I was too warm so thought I would repack my saddle bag and managed to rip the top off the dry sack.
 
Met Darryl and were on our way, next I had 2 front wheel punctures before we got to Cardross, so had done approx. 18 miles. It was during the repair of the 2nd puncture the rain started teaming it down. Oh, nearly forgot as I was discovering I had the 1st puncture and was looking at the tyre on the road, I heard a vehicle screeching towards us, Darryl later told me it was going sideways out of control and ended up on the pavement behind us.
 
Robbie as you suggested we stopped in Arrochar for rolls and found some shelter for our bikes for half an hour, then it was up the Rest and be Thankful, again pishing it down.
We had lunch in Inverrary, at this time we were ringing out our gloves over some soup and hot paninis.
We discussed how bad the rain was, but at least there was no wind.
 
Left Inverrary and shortly after that the wind picked up, it was not very enjoyable to say the least and the last 5-10 miles into Oban was especially treacherous with drivers going too fast and cutting in, we presume they must have been trying to catch a ferry.
 
Hot shower in Youth Hostel and a couple of beers, attempted to fix said punctures, but the glue in the puncture kit was empty, luckily managed to borrow a couple of self-stick patches from another cyclist.
Headed out for fish and chips and a few more beers.
 
Next day, totally different, sun in the sky. Arm and leg warmers even came off. Met Al Yuille outside Lochgilphead for a quick chat. We cycled down to Tarbet had lunch and then into Portavadie. A few hills then onto the Ferry to Gourock. We ride up the Clune, never seen any road works and then down the cycle path home.
 
Thanks to Darryl was a cracking trip and now feel better prepared for the NC5oo.

Fancy this but unfortunately work has decided to cancel my day off. If I get it back will come along.

DA
 

Nice run today, Great company and Cafe stop although the rolls were great the Lemon Meringue was only a 4/10 Fantastic to see Charlie back out on the bike! 50 miles first outing since accident, Chapeau!

great day out, sun, great company and some Brutal climbs. Well done to Darryl for keeping us together for 90 miles.
 
I locked my back wheel and ran off on a descent,I was lucky there was a bit of grass to run of and managed to stay upright. I gave the rest of the descents the respect they deserved after that. in the wet as George said they would have been awful.
 
My 36 cassette managed to get me up the climbs, well worth the ribbing I got for fitting the Saucer.
 
Well done everyone today, cracking event... I wont be going back either ðŸ˜

Noice run today with Eric, Alex and David C no rain and some sun on the sewing bee route... Not a bad Monday

I'd be interested, working shifts means I miss most of the Sunday runs so would like to get out when I could but again shifts allowing.

Hi, any newer or prospective members who are bike fit are encouraged to join our third Reliability ride tomorrow. I will be there to welcome newcomers and give some tips on bunch riding. Please see the separate thread for route details.
 
The Reliabilities are non-supported rides which are a test of early season fitness and self-sufficiency so we won't have a coffee stop or other rest without very good reason. This means that you should be able to ride for about 3.5-4 hours carrying your food and drink and be able to access it on the move. You'll also need a spare tube etc.
 
I will do my best to ensure that the group is kept together for as long as possible and that newer people are not left behind.
 
Either post here or PM me tonight if unsure you are up for it but keen to try. It is a pretty flat ride and weather looks benign so hope to see some of you attempting the 60 mile distance for the first time.
 
See you at clubrooms at 0855.
 
Alan
Membership Secy

Small bunch of 6, comprising Darryl, Eve, Alan Mac, 'mad dog' Mulholland, Gerard and myself left at 09:00. Graham turned up just as we rolled off, but snapped his chain in an effort to stay with the furious pace set by mad dog. We stormed up on a Paisley Velo bunch on the .Westferry, and as we blew through the bunch on the Clune, Gerard punctured. Regrouping at the top we carried on over the wall. Once over, it was a steady pace round to Phil's foll, where mad dog paid the price of his earlier efforts. The rest of us carried round and back to the clubhouse, where there was tea and coffee. Good day to be be out, even when it was raining.

Had to walk 100 m from house to get on gritted road!
After that no problem with ice.
Graeme, Boyd and me had a good steady run to Eglington Park for café stop.
Café is excellent with lots of space for a bunch invasion.
Scrambled egg roll was very good and Graeme was impressed with the amount of bacon in his roll (Chung please note!  ).
On the way back it had warmed up a bit and the sun was starting to break through.
Towards the end I peeled off to do an extra loop and got 52 miles in the bag.
 

Really good run and enjoyed it, although next time I volunteer for extra miles somebody slap me. ðŸ˜

Think I might manage.

As many of you already know there now exists the JWCC 'official' Strava page. This is a new page built towards the end of 2016 to provide active 'Wheelers' with a single club-managed site to record all of your rides and see posts of certain upcoming club runs and events.
 
The new Strava page has all of our known 'Wheelers' contact details and web links to places such as FB and British Cycling where members and joiners can find out more about the Club.
 
Unlike the old site the admins are controlled by Club members, more administrators can be added as required, this has enabled the posting of upcoming events and club rides. Now that we have entered 2017 you may have recently noticed details of the 1st Reliability were posted and everyone who has joined JWCC 'official' page should have received an invitation to attend. It is now possible to register an interest in joining the event by simply clicking on a button under the Group Event notice.
 
It would be good to have all, or most, of our current membership operating on the one Strava page, there are currently 45 members of the new JWCC 'official' Strava but still c80 on the old one. You are not obliged to do so, but if you want to receive information on club events and keep an eye on your friends (or enemies) achievements then why not join JWCC - official for 2017 and you can then leave the old pages.....it's simple...
 
...follow the yellow JWCC badge!
 
https://www.strava.com/clubs/JohnstoneWheelers

Here it is. Can a mod please pin? Well done George. Congrats to all the handsome riders in the photos and to Paul McD for announcing the Double Arran challenge to the world.
 
Many thanks to Steve Prentice, MD at Cycling Weekly, for giving permission for us to reproduce this on the site. Some subscriptions might be in order!
P104107_Ridewith_JohnsonWheelers.pdf

Trying for a pass, hopefully see you at the clubhouse.

Hi Allan, i have did it the last 3 years, has been good fun especially if you get some decent weather.
 
You have to register in person in Pitlochry the day before the race, so that has involved an overnight stay. Which was another expense.....
 
This year I am pushing the boat out and doing a bike trip to Majorca instead of a trip to Pitlochry

Great day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for waiting for me on the hilly bits and for the wheels the rest of the way.